Vitamins in Guava

by Erik Devaney

About Erik Devaney

Erik Devaney is a writing professional specializing in health and science topics. His work has been featured on various websites. Devaney attended McGill University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in humanistic studies.

Overview

The guava tree comes in a variety of species, but the most familiar is the common guava. The guava plant produces lemon-shaped fruits of the same name, which typically have a yellow or brownish-yellow skin. The inside is cream-colored, pulpy, and contains several small, hard seeds. The tropical fruit is typically used in juices, jellies and jams.

Vitamin C

Guavas are an excellent source of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. A 1-cup serving of common guava contains about 375 milligrams, or about 625 percent of the recommended daily value. Once a fully ripe guava begins to soften, its vitamin C content starts to decline. Canned varieties are generally about 50 percent lower in vitamin C than the fresh fruit. Vitamin C is essential for keeping tissues that comprise bones, teeth, blood vessels, skin and other components of the body strong. It also helps your body absorb non-heme iron, the kind found in vegetables, grains and nuts. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant, as well. A lack of vitamin C in a diet can result in rough, dry skin, sore bones and joints, bleeding gums, sensitivity to bruising and slow wound healing.

Niacin

Niacin, like all members of the B-complex of vitamins, acts as a co-enzyme and helps your body derive energy from the breakdown of food. A cup of common guava has just under 2 milligrams of niacin, or 9 percent of the recommended daily value. Niacin is particularly important to the digestive process. It also promotes a normal, healthy appetite and contributes to nerve and skin health.

Thiamine

While most commonly found in meats, liver, legumes and whole and enriched grains, thiamine, or vitamin B-1, also appears in guava -- you'll get about 7 percent of the recommended daily value from a 1-cup serving. Thiamine contributes to a healthy nervous system and a normal appetite, and also helps your body convert food into energy. A thiamine deficiency can cause impaired growth, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, mental confusion and edema, or the build-up of fluids in body tissues.

Riboflavin

One cup of common guava supplies 4 percent of the recommended daily value for riboflavin, or vitamin B-2. This important vitamin promotes healthy skin and vision, and, along with thiamine, helps your body convert food into energy. A riboflavin deficiency can lead to dermatitis of the nose and lips, cracking at the corners of the mouth and visual sensitivity to light.

Other Vitamins

You'll also get beneficial amounts of vitamins A and E, folate and vitamin B-6 from fresh guava.